Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Blood Wedding Journal #2
Creative: Diary entries from any of the characters.
Dear Diary,
It is the night before my wedding, and I am nervous. I know that I simply cannot go through with marrying this man. I also know that I am still in love with Leonardo. We have decided to run away together where we can live in peace without the pressure of being in our own unhappy marriages. Him with his wife and I with my husband, neither of us will find happiness. That is why we must leave this place and go away together. As soon as I get a chance to be alone, I will find him and take him away with me. My Father will no doubt be crushed upon losing his daughter and a chance at grandsons, and I will be the talk of the town. There will be no going back. Leonardo and I will surely be dead if we ever are caught. Yes, I am dreading my wedding tomorrow, but I am waiting in earnest to finally be alone with my love, Leonardo.
With Love,
The Bride
Dear Diary,
It is the night before my wedding, and I am nervous. I know that I simply cannot go through with marrying this man. I also know that I am still in love with Leonardo. We have decided to run away together where we can live in peace without the pressure of being in our own unhappy marriages. Him with his wife and I with my husband, neither of us will find happiness. That is why we must leave this place and go away together. As soon as I get a chance to be alone, I will find him and take him away with me. My Father will no doubt be crushed upon losing his daughter and a chance at grandsons, and I will be the talk of the town. There will be no going back. Leonardo and I will surely be dead if we ever are caught. Yes, I am dreading my wedding tomorrow, but I am waiting in earnest to finally be alone with my love, Leonardo.
With Love,
The Bride
Monday, May 17, 2010
Blood Wedding Journal #1
Discussion: Point of View/Characters: From whose point of view is the story told? Does this change? How reliable is the narrative voice? How well does the reader get to know the characters? How credible are they? How are they presented? How does the writer persuade us to like/sympathize with some characters and dislike others?
(I will start with the characters in Act I and probably add to this as we read further on)
Bridegroom: He is one of the first two characters we meet in the play. We immediately learn about his sad family history and feel sorry for his loss, but also look forward to his future life with his new life. Later on, when we see him interacting with the bride, we notice that he loves her more than she loves him. Also, the bride is not at all interested in marrying him. It makes us wonder why they are getting married in the first place, and it makes the bridegroom look foolish because he can't see that she doesn't want him.
Mother: She is one of the first two characters we meet in the play. We immediately learn about her sad family history and feel sorry for her loss, but also feel sorry that she will soon be losing her son when he gets married. She seems kind of crazy because she is obsessing over knives and cannot let go of her dead loved ones and keeps shifting the conversation towards them.
Wife: Because she begins by singing to her baby in a poetic sort of way, she seems very loving and tender. However, (to me at least) she soon seems kind of nagging and clingy towards Leonardo. She also appears to be jealous of his former relationship with the bride. Later in the play, it is revealed that her relationship with Leonardo is very tense and strained.
Leonardo: Leonardo comes into the play and seems to be busy and short-tempered. Later on, it seems that he is only curt with his wife, and it becomes obviously that he truly loves the bride and not his wife. However, I did not feel sympathy for the wife because it seemed like everyone else was against Leonardo. It also seemed very sad to me that Leonardo and the bride love each other but are not together.
Father: The father doesn't seem to play a huge role, but he does seem very concerned with having sons to do his work. This contrasts with the mother's concern with having daughters because the sons will always leave, but daughters spend time with you.
Bride: The bride is my favorite character in the play because she seems to have the most going on. She is marrying one guy, but she doesn't really love him. In fact, it seems that she even hates him because she is always telling him to leave her alone. I always start laughing when he refers to their "alone time" and she seems kind of grossed out by it. While she is the most deceptive character in the play, I seem to trust her the most because I feel like while she might not be honest with other people, she is definitely honest with herself. Rather than trying to convince herself that she can live happily with the bridegroom, she decides to ditch him at their wedding.
(I will start with the characters in Act I and probably add to this as we read further on)
Bridegroom: He is one of the first two characters we meet in the play. We immediately learn about his sad family history and feel sorry for his loss, but also look forward to his future life with his new life. Later on, when we see him interacting with the bride, we notice that he loves her more than she loves him. Also, the bride is not at all interested in marrying him. It makes us wonder why they are getting married in the first place, and it makes the bridegroom look foolish because he can't see that she doesn't want him.
Mother: She is one of the first two characters we meet in the play. We immediately learn about her sad family history and feel sorry for her loss, but also feel sorry that she will soon be losing her son when he gets married. She seems kind of crazy because she is obsessing over knives and cannot let go of her dead loved ones and keeps shifting the conversation towards them.
Wife: Because she begins by singing to her baby in a poetic sort of way, she seems very loving and tender. However, (to me at least) she soon seems kind of nagging and clingy towards Leonardo. She also appears to be jealous of his former relationship with the bride. Later in the play, it is revealed that her relationship with Leonardo is very tense and strained.
Leonardo: Leonardo comes into the play and seems to be busy and short-tempered. Later on, it seems that he is only curt with his wife, and it becomes obviously that he truly loves the bride and not his wife. However, I did not feel sympathy for the wife because it seemed like everyone else was against Leonardo. It also seemed very sad to me that Leonardo and the bride love each other but are not together.
Father: The father doesn't seem to play a huge role, but he does seem very concerned with having sons to do his work. This contrasts with the mother's concern with having daughters because the sons will always leave, but daughters spend time with you.
Bride: The bride is my favorite character in the play because she seems to have the most going on. She is marrying one guy, but she doesn't really love him. In fact, it seems that she even hates him because she is always telling him to leave her alone. I always start laughing when he refers to their "alone time" and she seems kind of grossed out by it. While she is the most deceptive character in the play, I seem to trust her the most because I feel like while she might not be honest with other people, she is definitely honest with herself. Rather than trying to convince herself that she can live happily with the bridegroom, she decides to ditch him at their wedding.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Wild Duck Journal #5 - Tracking
I have been tracking the truth in Oedipus and Wild Duck.
In Oedipus, it seems like the revelation of the truth is seen as a good thing, and the right thing to do. Oedipus knows that finding out the truth could destroy him, but he is determined to find it out anyway. Once he does, he blinds himself and the play ends with him preparing for exile. This mindset that finding out what it true and good is more important than a single person's happiness makes it seem like the truth should always be revealed. Even though the truth led to destruction, this destruction was not really a bad thing (because it led to the restoration of Thebes).
In Wild Duck, however, the revelation of the truth is a bad thing. Gregers is determined to show Hjalmar the truth about his wife and his family because he believes that it will make him a stronger man (similar to the message in Oedipus), but in the end it just ends up destroying his family and leaving him in a state of despair over his dead daughter. This broken family contrasts with the content family we see in the first few acts to show us that we can live happily while believing lies, or we can live miserably when we know the truth. In this situation, it is reasonable to infer that Ibsen believes that it is not always necessary to be completely truthful. He shows that in reality, a lie is sometimes the better option because it keeps things from getting too crazy.
In Oedipus, it seems like the revelation of the truth is seen as a good thing, and the right thing to do. Oedipus knows that finding out the truth could destroy him, but he is determined to find it out anyway. Once he does, he blinds himself and the play ends with him preparing for exile. This mindset that finding out what it true and good is more important than a single person's happiness makes it seem like the truth should always be revealed. Even though the truth led to destruction, this destruction was not really a bad thing (because it led to the restoration of Thebes).
In Wild Duck, however, the revelation of the truth is a bad thing. Gregers is determined to show Hjalmar the truth about his wife and his family because he believes that it will make him a stronger man (similar to the message in Oedipus), but in the end it just ends up destroying his family and leaving him in a state of despair over his dead daughter. This broken family contrasts with the content family we see in the first few acts to show us that we can live happily while believing lies, or we can live miserably when we know the truth. In this situation, it is reasonable to infer that Ibsen believes that it is not always necessary to be completely truthful. He shows that in reality, a lie is sometimes the better option because it keeps things from getting too crazy.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Wild Duck Journal #4
Comparison: Compare how writers in your study have explored the theme of judgment and punishment and with what effect.
In Oedipus, it seems that the end of the novel acts as a sort of "judgment day." It is at this point that we see who Oedipus really is, and he punishes himself with blindness and exile. However, in ancient Greece, this could have been seen as the honorable thing to do. While he is punished with this fate, he is also judged by it. Because he chooses to "take the high road" by living in blindness and exile, he could be seen as heroic and noble.
In Wild Duck, Gregers is very concerned with his ideal image of a man, in this case Hjalmar. He believes that through informing Hjalmar about his wife's past relationship, Hjalmar will be a better man for it. However, once Hjalmar learns of this secret, he abandons his family and becomes miserable. It becomes evident that Hjalmar is not the "ideal man" because of his reaction. He is punished for his behavior when it results in his daughter's suicide and we see him regret his actions.
In Oedipus, it seems that the end of the novel acts as a sort of "judgment day." It is at this point that we see who Oedipus really is, and he punishes himself with blindness and exile. However, in ancient Greece, this could have been seen as the honorable thing to do. While he is punished with this fate, he is also judged by it. Because he chooses to "take the high road" by living in blindness and exile, he could be seen as heroic and noble.
In Wild Duck, Gregers is very concerned with his ideal image of a man, in this case Hjalmar. He believes that through informing Hjalmar about his wife's past relationship, Hjalmar will be a better man for it. However, once Hjalmar learns of this secret, he abandons his family and becomes miserable. It becomes evident that Hjalmar is not the "ideal man" because of his reaction. He is punished for his behavior when it results in his daughter's suicide and we see him regret his actions.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wild Duck Journal #3
Comparison: What are the questions that underlie at least two of the works that you have read and how have the authors sought to answer those questions?
One major question asked by the two plays we have read so far is: Should the truth come out or be kept secret? Are we better off happy in our ignorance, or miserable in knowing the truth?
In Oedipus, this question definitely receives an answer. Sophocles show us that we should always strive toward the truth rather than settling for lies. Once everyone knows the truth, Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself and prepares for exile. However, we also realize that his city is saved now that he is gone. In ancient Greek times, to die in battle protecting your city was honorable. Oedipus' exile is for the benefit of Thebes, and could therefor be seen as heroic. Also in those times, the great playwrights were basing their stories off of the "ideal man." Because we see this "ideal man" determined to find the truth, the message of the play is that a good man will always try to find the truth, no matter the cost. Even our own destruction should not keep us from discovering what is right.
In Wild Duck, Hjalmar's family is ripped apart when the truth about his wife's affair with Mr. Werle comes out. Werle gave money and support to Hjalmar because of this relationship with Gina, and now Hjalmar feels that everything he thought he worked for was a lie. He doesn't know what to believe now, but he knows that he can't trust Gina. He wants nothing to do with his family any longer. Because this play was written in the Modernist time period, it was written to portray real life. It was a movement against Romanticism (which has many connections with the Greek writing style), so it makes sense that the message from this play differs from Oedipus. Ibsen shows, through the Ekdal family's unfortunate outcome, that happiness in a lie is better than misery in the truth. Before the truth was revealed, the Ekdal family did have its problems, but they were still living together, and there are some scenes where they express a great love for each other. This is an accurate representation of real life. However, once Gregers reveals the truth the Hjalmar, this happiness is destroyed and Hedvig commits suicide because her father wants nothing to do with her. This shows us that "ignorance is bliss," and we are sometimes better off living happily in the dark.
One major question asked by the two plays we have read so far is: Should the truth come out or be kept secret? Are we better off happy in our ignorance, or miserable in knowing the truth?
In Oedipus, this question definitely receives an answer. Sophocles show us that we should always strive toward the truth rather than settling for lies. Once everyone knows the truth, Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself and prepares for exile. However, we also realize that his city is saved now that he is gone. In ancient Greek times, to die in battle protecting your city was honorable. Oedipus' exile is for the benefit of Thebes, and could therefor be seen as heroic. Also in those times, the great playwrights were basing their stories off of the "ideal man." Because we see this "ideal man" determined to find the truth, the message of the play is that a good man will always try to find the truth, no matter the cost. Even our own destruction should not keep us from discovering what is right.
In Wild Duck, Hjalmar's family is ripped apart when the truth about his wife's affair with Mr. Werle comes out. Werle gave money and support to Hjalmar because of this relationship with Gina, and now Hjalmar feels that everything he thought he worked for was a lie. He doesn't know what to believe now, but he knows that he can't trust Gina. He wants nothing to do with his family any longer. Because this play was written in the Modernist time period, it was written to portray real life. It was a movement against Romanticism (which has many connections with the Greek writing style), so it makes sense that the message from this play differs from Oedipus. Ibsen shows, through the Ekdal family's unfortunate outcome, that happiness in a lie is better than misery in the truth. Before the truth was revealed, the Ekdal family did have its problems, but they were still living together, and there are some scenes where they express a great love for each other. This is an accurate representation of real life. However, once Gregers reveals the truth the Hjalmar, this happiness is destroyed and Hedvig commits suicide because her father wants nothing to do with her. This shows us that "ignorance is bliss," and we are sometimes better off living happily in the dark.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wild Duck Journal #2
Comparison: "Although doubt is not a pleasant condition, certainty is an absurd one." In the light of this statement, explore the impressions of doubt and/or certainty conveyed in at least two works you have studied.
In Oedipus, the people of Thebes ask Oedipus to find the killer of Lauis so that they can be free of the plague. As he gains more information, Oedipus discovers coincidences that lead him to suspect himself of killing his father. When Jocasta hears of this, she dismisses it and urges him not to push the matter any further. However, Oedipus is determined to uncover the truth. If he had not felt the need to be certain about his heritage, he would not have discovered the truth about who he is and what he had done. Then, Jocasta may not have killed herself and Oedipus would probably not have blinded himself. Oedipus' need for certainty is what leads to his destruction. However, when Jocasta's initial certainty that Oedipus is not her son wavers and she realizes what happens, she cannot live with the truth. It appears that this false certainty has a different meaning than the certainty in the truth. It could be that being certain of something something which you have no proof of (blind belief), or certainty in a lie, leads to Jocasta's destruction.
In Wild Duck, Gregers is obsessed with telling Hjalmar the truth about his wife's involvement with Mr. Werle, leading Hjalmar to question whether or not Hedvig is his biological daughter. When he first realizes that Hedvig may not be his daughter, he does not hesitate to basically freak out and walk out on his family. He does this because he has doubts, but he is not certain. He leaves before he takes the time to know for sure who the real father is. This lack of a need for certainty leaves us without knowledge of who her real father is. Because of this, it is possible that Hjalmar is indeed the father. Opposite of Oedipus, Hjalmar feels no need to know for certain. His acting on doubts brings his certain destruction. While the reader cannot know what would have happened if he had waited until he was certain, the reader also cannot know for certain if Hjalmar would have had the same fate.
In Oedipus, the people of Thebes ask Oedipus to find the killer of Lauis so that they can be free of the plague. As he gains more information, Oedipus discovers coincidences that lead him to suspect himself of killing his father. When Jocasta hears of this, she dismisses it and urges him not to push the matter any further. However, Oedipus is determined to uncover the truth. If he had not felt the need to be certain about his heritage, he would not have discovered the truth about who he is and what he had done. Then, Jocasta may not have killed herself and Oedipus would probably not have blinded himself. Oedipus' need for certainty is what leads to his destruction. However, when Jocasta's initial certainty that Oedipus is not her son wavers and she realizes what happens, she cannot live with the truth. It appears that this false certainty has a different meaning than the certainty in the truth. It could be that being certain of something something which you have no proof of (blind belief), or certainty in a lie, leads to Jocasta's destruction.
In Wild Duck, Gregers is obsessed with telling Hjalmar the truth about his wife's involvement with Mr. Werle, leading Hjalmar to question whether or not Hedvig is his biological daughter. When he first realizes that Hedvig may not be his daughter, he does not hesitate to basically freak out and walk out on his family. He does this because he has doubts, but he is not certain. He leaves before he takes the time to know for sure who the real father is. This lack of a need for certainty leaves us without knowledge of who her real father is. Because of this, it is possible that Hjalmar is indeed the father. Opposite of Oedipus, Hjalmar feels no need to know for certain. His acting on doubts brings his certain destruction. While the reader cannot know what would have happened if he had waited until he was certain, the reader also cannot know for certain if Hjalmar would have had the same fate.
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